The Major season is well underway, with the PGA Championship up next as Quail Hollow Club hosts the second Grand Slam event of the year from May 15–18, marking just the second time the venue has welcomed the event.
Since LIV Golf’s arrival, the Majors have taken on even greater significance, and this year’s pursuit of the Wanamaker Trophy is no exception. Fans can once again look forward to the world’s best players coming together to compete for one of the sport’s most sought-after titles.
Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler are once again the leading contenders to add another Major to their trophy cabinets, but Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele, and the ever-popular Bryson DeChambeau are sure to mount a strong challenge in North Carolina.
McIlroy at the double?
After completing the career Grand Slam with his thrilling Masters victory, McIlroy might not have to wait long for his next Major triumph and he’ll head to the PGA Championship fully pumped.
Quail Hollow has been a dominant venue for the Northern Irishman throughout his career. With four wins, a runner-up finish, and several top-10 performances, the 35-year-old has consistently made the course his playground. His four victories at Quail Hollow match his tally at the Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club, marking the two as his most successful venues.
The course suits McIlroy’s strengths perfectly. His distance off the tee is frequently rewarded, and his performances at the Truist Championship (formerly the Wells Fargo Championship) demonstrate his comfort on the fast-paced Bermuda greens.
With this proven winning formula and McIlroy arguably playing the best golf of his career, the wait for another Major win — after enduring over a decade between his last two — could be just a little over a month.
It’s been ten years since Jordan Spieth won the first two Majors of the year in 2015, claiming both the Masters and U.S. Open. Now, with McIlroy’s recent Masters victory behind him and the PGA Championship fast approaching, the prospect of him replicating Spieth’s feat is a very real one.
Garcia returns
Sergio Garcia is set to make his return to the PGA Championship after receiving a special invitation to compete in this year’s tournament, marking the Spaniard’s first appearance in the event since 2022.
The 2017 Masters champion had been absent from both The Open Championship and PGA Championship since his move to LIV Golf in 2022, which caused a decline in his Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). His failure to secure a spot in the 2023 PGA Championship broke a streak of 23 consecutive years playing in Majors, beginning with his debut in 1999.
While the PGA Championship does not strictly adhere to a ranking-based qualification system, invites are often extended to players inside the top 100 of the OWGR the week prior the event — Garcia is currently ranked 402nd.
However, the PGA of America has the discretion to invite players of their choosing, as evidenced by their decision to extend invitations to several LIV Golf stars outside the top 100 in the OWGR last year.
For Garcia, this invitation presents a critical opportunity to showcase his form on the biggest stage and catch the attention of European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald.
“Hopefully I play so well in the Majors and in the DP World Tour events that I don’t need a pick,” Garcia stated in December after rejoining the DP World Tour and expressing his desire to compete in the biennial event once more.
While his missed cut at the Masters wasn’t the ideal start to automatically qualify, his strong performances in LIV Golf this season — including a win and two top-10 finishes —suggest he could well be in the running for a Captain’s Pick.
Thomas in the hunt for a repeat
Justin Thomas couldn’t have picked a better time to return to the winner’s circle. After ending a nearly two-year drought with a thrilling play-off victory at the RBC Heritage last month, the two-time PGA Championship winner looks poised at picking up at a third title, back at the venue where he won his first in 2017.
Back then, Thomas produced a spectacular final-round performance, rallying from an early deficit to claim a two-shot victory. His chip-in birdie on the 13th and the unforgettable 15-second wait as his birdie putt on the 10th finally dropped into the hole are etched into the tournament’s history for eternity.
Quail Hollow has long been a special place for Thomas, and his recent triumph at Harbour Town Golf Links signals a return to form after a challenging period in his career.
In the nearly three years between victories, the former world No. 1 faced significant setbacks. He relied on a Captain’s Pick to make the U.S. Ryder Cup team, missed the FedExCup Playoffs for the first time, endured consecutive rounds in the 80s at Major Championships, and stepped back from working closely with his swing coach and father, Mike. While 2024 showed flashes of improvement, Thomas struggled to contend on the back nine of final rounds and missed selection for the U.S. Presidents Cup team.
However, 2025 has marked a shift in momentum. With a runner-up finish at The American Express and top-10 results at the WM Phoenix Open and The Genesis Invitational, Thomas began to rediscover his consistency. He followed it up with a strong showing at the Valspar Championship before finally securing his 16th PGA Tour title at the RBC Heritage.
With a win already under his belt this season and a proven track record at Quail Hollow, he looks ready to once again contend for the Wanamaker Trophy at a venue he cherishes.
